Why Is Pickleball So Popular?

Why is pickleball so popular amongst people these days, irrespective of their age, height, intelligence, and body shape? Read to know!

Why is pickleball so popular? Could it be because it resembles tennis, or is it because it looks cool playing and running around the court with wicked paddles in your hands? The answer is that pickleball is a game of great benefits. You have no idea what a great impact this game has on you and your life. It is literally a life-changing game that not only helps you create a social life for yourself but also trains your body and mind to be stronger and more flexible.

Pickleball Popularity Trend Over The Last 5 Years

I am personally a huge fan of pickleball. In fact, I have been playing this game since I was four years old. But it was only after I learned its astonishing benefits that I started taking it more seriously. In the following article, I will tell you all about why this game is so popular amongst people of all ages these days. So, if you want to know more, keep on reading the following article.

1. A Great Workout

If physical fitness is your motive, but you hate doing boring exercise consistently, then you should definitely try playing pickleball. Trust me, it is the best form of pickleball exercise I know. It keeps you in shape and provides your brain with all the oxygen it needs for proper functioning. It also helps improve your muscle coordination and agility. This will make you more alert to the surroundings and prepare you for any situation.

Playing pickleball burns around 250-350 calories per hour at a rate of 120 to 150 beats per minute (bpm), which varies depending on several factors, such as your weight, intensity of play, and individual metabolism.

It is such a fun game that you won’t even realize that you are even getting a workout. You will be so busy chasing the ball and throwing it back at your opponents that you won’t even feel the burn in your limbs. Besides, the mental relaxation that this game provides you is simply out of the world. You will instantly feel an improvement in your mental ability to tackle difficult situations and be more alert to your environment. It will relax your nerves and release tension.

2. Helps Improve Your Social Circle

If you are a hermit and looking to expand or build up your social circle, then you should definitely start playing pickleball. It doesn’t matter where your pickleball skills stand. You will be able to make new friends and learn so much from every person you meet. It is the best way of finding like-minded people and seeing the world through their perspective.

There is no way that you go out to play pickleball and return home without interacting with people. You will naturally fall into conversation with your teammates who are there to learn and connect as well. It is a highly social game and an excellent start for people looking for an easy way to connect with people and get out of their comfort zone.

3. Super Easy To Learn

Pickleball is not like any other sport. It is the easiest to learn. In fact, if you ask me, I had the most fun learning to play this game. It is a kind of game in which you fall easily into a pattern and get a handle on its simple pickleball rules. If you already play table tennis or lawn tennis, you will instantly understand how to play pickleball game and even find it much simpler than the other two games I mentioned.

However, you may take some time to learn and get the hang of this game if you are an absolute beginner and haven’t played any sport in your life. Your muscles will take some time to coordinate with your hand and eye receptivity. You won’t be too flexible to move around the court too quickly. However, it will only be a matter of a week or two before you start seeing improvement in yourself. This period is way less than other games.

4. Does Not Require Much Equipment

The best thing about pickleball is that it does not require much equipment. You will just need a pickleball paddle and a wiffle ball to get started. No need for precautionary stuff or any special equipment. You don’t even need a special costume, either. A simple pickleball outfit would suffice, given that you feel comfortable playing pickleball in it.

Hence, it means that you won’t even need too much investment in this fastest growing sport. In fact, you may even get started within a total budget of a hundred dollars. Besides, there is no need to get a high-end pickleball paddle in the beginning, either. First, learn how to play pickleball using a cheap paddle and then upgrade later on when you have the funds.

5. Goes Easy On Your Body

Have you ever wondered why most tennis players shift to pickleball after their retirement? This is because pickleball is a lighter version of tennis. It does not demand your body to be too agile or in good shape. It does not even wear out your joints.

This is because the wiffle ball used for playing pickleball is much larger and softer than the tennis ball. So, it is much slower and does not require you to hit it with as much force. Neither does it require you to be extra quick in catching the ball. Shifting from tennis to pickleball will prove to be a very smooth transition for you.

6. Low Impact Game

Pickleball is a low-impact game. It does not put too much pressure on your knees, feet, and elbows. So, suppose you have previously suffered from a muscle or a joint injury, and your physicians are not advising you to start playing high-impact games such as tennis. In that case, you should definitely consider playing pickleball and ease your way into high-impact games smoothly.

This game will also train and prepare your muscles and joints for high-impact games as well. So, if you ask me, pickleball is exactly the kind of low-impact game that will help you train your muscles to get back into shape.

7. Does Not Require Too Much Space

Pickleball requires only half the space needed for tennis. In fact, you can play pickleball on the tennis court as well, with only minor modifications. It means that you don’t need any separate space for playing pickleball, either. Even if you don’t have a tennis court, you will still be able to play pickleball on a makeshift pickleball court.

And the best part is that pickleball can be played indoors as well as outdoors. It is the kind of game that you can play in your free time with your friends and family in your backyard.

8. Play Anywhere You Want

As I mentioned earlier, you don’t need any specified space for playing pickleball. It means that you can play this game almost anywhere you want. Simply tag your pickleball paddles and the wiffle balls along to your place of choice and set up your court anywhere you want. You may play pickleball in parks, beaches, schools, colleges, or any recreational centers accessible to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Is Pickleball Most Popular In The World?

Pickleball is played worldwide but when it comes to the hub of pickleball players, that would be California. It has more than seven hundred pickleball places in all of California where you can play this game with your friends.

Why Is Pickleball So Addictive?

The reason why pickleball is so addictive is because it is suitable for all ages and people with all skill sets. You may be a beginner or an amateur, but you will be treated with the same respect.

Why Is Pickleball Better Than Tennis?

Pickleball is far better than tennis because it is a low-impact game. You may be injured or old and still be able to play pickleball without any trouble.

Why Is Pickleball Good For Seniors?

Seniors love playing pickleball as it is a great workout, a low-impact game, provides social interaction, and requires less amount of running. Most seniors feel loneliness and physical issues in older age, which can negatively affect their mental and physical health. Pickleball is a great way for social engagement and physical activity.

Why Is Pickleball So Noisy?

Pickleball is notably noisy due to the design of its equipment and playing surface. The solid paddles, typically made of wood or composite materials, strike the hard plastic ball and produce a distinctive ‘pop’ sound. Additionally, the game often involves rapid volleys and is played on hard court surfaces, which amplify the sound of ball contact, contributing to its characteristic noise level.

Final Thoughts

So, this was all from my side. I hope you all enjoyed reading through this article. I tried my best to provide you with all the information that you needed in order to understand why pickleball is so popular amongst people of all ages. It is a game that does not have a minimum or a maximum age limit.

You may be slim, fat, tall, short, black, or white; it doesn’t matter at all except for how willing you are to take a step in this direction. The USA Pickleball Association has 124,000 members, which is increasing daily. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s report, there is an increase of 21.3% in pickleball growth from 2019 to 2021.

Pickleball Popularity Graph By Player's Contribution — Pickleball Popularity Graph By Player’s Contribution

It is a simple, low-impact game that helps you build up invaluable skills within yourself. It provides a superb full-body workout to your body as well as your mind. It relaxes your nerves and provides you with a source of outlet to let all the negative energy out. After playing this game, you will feel considerably lighter and fresher. Besides that, it does not require expensive equipment, nor does it need too much space. You can set up your portable pickleball court in any space available to you.